Jason Castro

Born March 25, 1987, Jason Castro was raised in Texas by Colombian parents. He and his two siblings are the first generation of his family to be born in the US. Jason Castro has worn his trademark dreadlocks since 2006. While growing up Castro played the drums, but he taught himself to play guitar in college. As a drummer he played with the band Keeping Lions.

While a junior at Texas A&M University in 2007, Jason Castro auditioned for season seven of American Idol. He performed Ray LaMontagne's song "Crazy," and, from the beginning, many considered him a favorite in the competition. He was only in the bottom three once before reaching the final four and being voted off. Jason Castro was the first contestant to play an instrument on the show. He used his guitar multiple times and played ukulele when performing "Over the Rainbow."

Jason Castro's performances inspired unprecedented digital downloads from iTunes. When he performed Leonard Cohen's song "Hallelujah," it drove the sales of Jeff Buckley's critcally acclaimed version of the song to the top of the iTunes chart. Later, he briefly reached the top of the iTunes chart with his own performance of "Over the Rainbow."

Jason Castro's style of performing is a laidback, feel-good style. Personal charm comes through his singing and playing of the guitar. Jason Castro sums up his own approach by saying, "I have a simple goal, and that is to create songs that grab you by the soul and make you feel! Songs that inspire! Songs that give joy! Songs that make you dream!"

• Jason Castro Performs "Hallelujah" on American Idol
• Jason Castro Performs "Over the Rainbow" on American Idol

Following American Idol, Jason Castro headed out on the annual American Idols Live! tour. In April 2009, he announced that he had been signed to a major label recording contract with Atlantic Records. Jason Castro's debut album is expected in the summer. He is working with producer John Fields and songwriters Kara DioGuardi and Guy Chambers among others.